Hudson County, New Jersey Woman Sentenced to Seven Years in Prison for Bank Robbery Spree

Hudson County, New Jersey Woman Sentenced to Seven Years in Prison for Bank Robbery Spree

NEWARK, NJ—A Harrison, New Jersey, woman was sentenced today to 84 months in prison for robbing three banks over a three week span in Newark and Harrison—including one on Valentine’s Day, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.

Valeria Parziale, 36, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Faith S. Hochberg to an information charging her with one count of bank robbery. U.S. District Judge Claire C. Cecchi imposed the sentence today in Newark federal court.

According to the documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

Parziale admitted robbing a Valley National Bank in Harrison on Jan. 30, 2014 and a Wells Fargo bank in Newark on Feb. 14, 2014. She also admitted attempting to rob a Popular Community Bank in Newark on Feb. 20, 2014. At each robbery, Parziale handed the teller a note demanding cash and threatening the use of a gun. On one occasion, she wore a wig to disguise her identity.

In addition to the prison term, Judge Cecchi ordered Parziale to serve three years of supervised release.

U.S. Attorney Fishman credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Richard M. Frankel, with the investigation leading to today’s sentencing. He also thanked the Newark, Kearny and Harrison police departments for their assistance.

The government is represented by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas S. Kearney of the U.S. Attorney’s Office General Crimes Unit in Newark.